Ramping Mudflap Assembly

ABSTRACT

A mudflap assembly comprising a bracket for connection to a vehicle and a swiveling support is claimed. A mudflap hanger arm rotatably couples with the bracket via a hinged pin joint. A ramping sleeve is coupled to the pin between the hanger arm and bracket on one end, and a spring installed on the other end provides compressive force against the hanger arm when it travels up the ramping sleeve in response to a horizontal force.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/887,940, entitled “Ramping Mudflap Assembly,” filed on Feb. 2, 2007, which is fully incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of spray suppression in commercial trucking. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a mudflap assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mudguards or mudflaps are used primarily behind single or dual rear-wheeled truck and trailer vehicles, particularly heavy duty class 6, 7, and 8. Typically, the mudflap assemblies have the ability to flex in horizontal and vertical directions in order to withstand forces placed upon them during normal operation. Some mudguard mounting structures comprise a single piece of spring-like bar stock bent in a shape for supporting the mudguards and for flexing in all directions.

Other mounting assemblies for mudflaps use a rigid hanger assembly and resiliently bias the hanger assembly to a seat which is attached to a vehicle. In such assemblies, devices are often provided for restraining rotational movement of the hanger assembly with respect to the seat so that the mudflap always remains in its vertical orientation. If the hanger rotates so that the flap moves toward the wheels, the wheels may prematurely wear the mudflap away. If the hanger rotates in an opposite direction, the effectiveness of the mudflap may be diminished.

Mudflap brackets having a horizontal tube with a longitudinal mudflap mounting flange on its underside are known. Such brackets comprise a vehicle frame-mounted plate having bolts or studs of a predetermined, fixed separation, often selected to match existing manufacturer provided apertures in the vehicle frame. A proximate end of the horizontal tube is held against the frame-mounted plate, generally in an abutting relationship, by the bias of an elongate spring residing in the tube, the spring connected at one end to the frame-mounted plate and at the other end to the tube, at a location on the tube distal from the vehicle frame.

The abutting relationship of the horizontal tube and mounting plate to the frame-mounted plate may result in misalignment of the tube, which occurs when the tube is struck or subjected to the forces experienced by the vehicle traveling down the road. The bias of the elongate spring may not overcome the misalignment by itself. Corners or edges between the mounting plate, or tube, and the frame-mounted plate catch or hang up on each other, preventing realignment of the tube. Furthermore, such devices can be expensive to manufacture and replace, and are difficult to install and assemble.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is directed to a mudflap assembly device. This is accomplished by providing a mudflap hanger, a mudflap bracket, a pin, a ramping sleeve, and a compressive spring.

For purposes of summarizing the disclosure, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the disclosure have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

The present disclosure discloses a ramping mudflap assembly. The mudflap bracket contains a universal bolting pattern for attachment to any vehicle frame, and can be made from any material such as metal, composites, or high-density plastics which are capable of withstanding normal operational forces. A mudflap hanger is inserted within the bracket leaving the mudflap projecting away therefrom. The mudflap hanger is also made of durable material such as metal, composites, or high-density plastics, capable of withstanding normal operational forces. The mudflap itself is known in the art and made from standard industrial material. The mudflap can either be molded into the mudflap hanger or can otherwise be secured to the hanger using traditional means such as bolts or fasteners. In an alternative embodiment, the mudflap may be secured to the hanger via a slot along the length of the hanger for receiving a mudflap. In such an embodiment, the top of the mudflap is wedged such that when the bottom of the mudflap is inserted through the top of the hanger through the slot, the wedged portion of the mudflap sets securely within the mudflap slot. The wedge can be preformed into the mudflap, or can be created by mudflap retainers—accomplished by providing two halves of a mudflap retainer, wherein each half of the retainer has protrusions which extend through the standard hole placements of the mudflap. The halves are mated together through the mudflap creating a wedge at the top of the mudflap. The mudflap can then be inserted through a slot in a mudflap hanger assembly wherein the wedge created by the retainer couples with the mudflap hanger.

In one embodiment, the mudflap hanger is secured to the assembly by a pin which is inserted through the mudflap bracket and mudflap hanger, representing a hinged joint. The pin is also inserted through a spring and a ramping sleeve placed on either side of the hanger between the hanger and the bracket. Any device or material capable of providing compressive force may be used in the place of the spring. The ramping mechanism is oriented such that a horizontal force placed upon the mudflap hanger causes the hanger to rotate about the hinged joint and displaced upward and away from such force. The upward displacement of the hanger further compresses the spring such that when the horizontal force is removed, the hanger returns along the ramping sleeve to its resting position. In an alternative embodiment, the ramping mechanism can be molded or machined into the bracket at either the top portion, bottom portion, or both.

These and other embodiments of the present disclosure will also become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the disclosure not being limited to any particular embodiment(s) disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the mudflap assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mudflap assembly of FIG. 1 in an assembled configuration.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a mudflap assembly according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of the mudflap assembly of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a frontal perspective view of the bracket illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the bracket illustrated in FIG. 5

FIG. 7 is a top view of the bracket illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a top partial plan view of the mudflap assembly of FIG. 1 in its initial position installed on a vehicle.

FIG. 9 is a top partial plan view of the mudflap assembly of FIG. 7, illustrated in a position wherein the mudflap is being acted on by a horizontal force.

FIG. 10 is a top partial plan view of the mudflap assembly of FIG. 7, wherein the mudflap assembly has been rotated a full 90 degrees from its initial position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The various embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are best understood by referring to FIGS. 1 through 10 of the drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Throughout the drawings, like numerals are used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of one embodiment of mudflap assembly 101, and FIG. 2 illustrates this embodiment in an assembled configuration. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a mudflap hanger 110 is disposed between a ramping sleeve 115 and a compressive spring 120, all of which are set within the mudflap bracket 105 and coupled by a substantially cylindrical pin 125. A mudflap 133 is attached to the hanger 110. A ramping mechanism is created by a ramping sleeve 115 and a corresponding mudflap hanger 110. In its resting position (FIG. 2), the hanger 110, bracket 105, sleeve 115, and spring 120 fit securely together. However, as described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, a horizontal force placed upon the mudflap hanger 110 will cause the hanger 110 to rotate about the pin 125 and up the ramping sleeve 115, compressing the spring 120 between the hanger 110 and bracket 105. When the horizontal force is removed, the compressed spring 120 forces the hanger 110 back down along the ramping sleeve 115 to its resting position. The ramping sleeve 115 will not rotate about the pin 125 by virtue of the channel 230 incorporated into the ramping sleeve 115 which couples with the corresponding channel 235 of the mudflap bracket 105.

FIG. 3 shows the side view of the mudflap assembly according to the present disclosure, and FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view thereof. In its resting position, two downward-sloping portions 415, 405 of the hanger 110 create a v-shape wedge 425 which couples with a corresponding v-shaped crevice 430 of the ramping sleeve 115, which is created by two upward-sloping portions 410, 420 of the sleeve. A horizontal force perpendicular to the plane of the FIGS. 3 and 4, and toward the observer thereof which acts on the hanger 110 will cause the v-shaped wedge 425 of the hanger 110 to travel up the upward-sloping portion 420 of the ramping sleeve 115 further compressing the spring 120 which generates a downward force on the hanger 110. When the force is removed, the downward compressive force of the spring 120 on the hanger 110, causes the v-shaped wedge 425 of the hanger 110 to travel back down the upward-sloping portion 420 of the ramping sleeve 115, back to the hanger's 110 resting position. Conversely, a horizontal force perpendicular to the plane of the FIGS. 3 and 4, and away from the observer thereof which acts on the hanger 110 will cause the v-shaped wedge 425 of the hanger 110 to travel up the upward-sloping portion 410 of the ramping sleeve 115 further compressing the spring 120 which generates a downward force on the hanger 110. When the force is removed, the downward compressive force of the spring 120 on the hanger 110, causes the v-shaped wedge 425 of the hanger 110 to travel back down the upward-sloping portion 410 of the ramping sleeve 115, back to the hanger's 110 resting position. This same mechanism is evident on both sides of the assembly to ensure vertical movement of the hanger in relation to the bracket.

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 illustrate perspective front and top views, respectively, of one embodiment of bracket 120. A top opening 121, and a bottom opening 122 of the bracket 105 are substantially vertical and substantially cylindrical and correspond with the substantially vertical and substantially cylindrical openings of the hanger 110 (FIG. 1), ramping sleeve 115 (FIG. 1), and compressive spring 120 (FIG. 1). When installed, the pin engages the top opening 121, followed by the opening of the spring, hanger, sleeve, and bottom opening 122 to create a hinged joint. Fastener holes 145 in substantially flat rear side 126 receive standard fasteners (not illustrated) for attaching bracket 105 to a vehicle (not illustrated). Fastener holes are illustrated in a universal bolt pattern, but may be provided in any practicable pattern, number, and size.

FIGS. 8-10 illustrate the orientation of the mudflap assembly 101 during operation. Specifically, FIG. 8 is a top partial view of a vehicle 102 with a mudflap assembly 101 installed behind a wheel 103, wherein the mudflap assembly 101 is in its initial or “resting” orientation (i.e., when no force has been applied to the mudflap (not shown) or hanger 110 sufficient to move hanger 110 from its starting position perpendicular to the side 104 of the vehicle 102). As illustrated in FIG. 9, upon contact by an obstacle or object 111, hanger 110 may experience sufficient horizontal force to rotate in either a forwards or backwards direction as it swivels within bracket 105. When the force is removed from the hanger 110, the hanger will return to its initial or resting position. FIG. 10 illustrates the hanger 110 after it has rotated a full 90 degrees from its initial position.

This disclosure may be provided in other specific forms and embodiments without departing from the essential characteristics as described herein. The embodiments described above are to be considered in all aspects as illustrative only and not restrictive in any manner. The following claims rather than the foregoing description indicate the scope of the disclosure.

As described above and shown in the associated drawings, the present disclosure comprises a mudflap assembly. While particular embodiments of the disclosure have been described, it will be understood, however, that the disclosure is not limited thereto, since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. It is, therefore, contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modifications that incorporate those features or those improvements that embody the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 

1. A mudflap assembly comprising: a hanger for supporting a mudflap; and a bracket rotatably coupled to said hanger at a first end of said hanger, such that upon impact of said hanger with an obstacle, a second end of said hanger rotates around said bracket, radially displacing said hanger from an initial position.
 2. The mudflap assembly of claim 1, wherein a top end and a bottom end of said bracket form a cavity for receiving said first end of said hanger.
 3. The mudflap assembly of claim 2, further comprising a ramping sleeve immovably coupled to said bottom end of said bracket, and slidably coupled to said first end of said hanger.
 4. The mudflap assembly of claim 3, further comprising a compressive spring coupled between said top end of said bracket and said first end of said hanger.
 5. The mudflap assembly of claim 4, further comprising a substantially cylindrical pin which mates with said top end of said bracket, said compressive spring, said first end of said hanger, and said bottom end of said bracket creating a hinged joint wherein said hanger is free to rotate axially therein.
 6. The mudflap assembly of claim 5, further comprising at least one V-shaped crevice on said sleeve corresponding with at least one V-shaped wedge of said first end of said hanger in said initial position.
 7. The mudflap assembly of claim 6 wherein a mudflap is molded into said hanger.
 8. The mudflap assembly of claim 6 wherein said hanger further comprises a slot for receiving a mudflap.
 9. The mudflap assembly of claim 6 wherein said hanger further comprises an attachments means for attaching a mudflap to said hanger.
 10. The mudflap assembly of claim 6 wherein said bracket further comprises at least one opening for attachment to a vehicle.
 11. A mudflap assembly comprising: a hanger comprising a first end for supporting a mudflap, said first end comprising at least one V-shaped wedge; a bracket for connecting to a vehicle and for rotatably receiving a second end of said hanger; a spring exerting a compressive force between a first end of said bracket and said second end of said hanger; a sleeve comprising at least one V-shaped crevice; and a pin for creating a hinged joint with said hanger, said bracket, said spring, and said sleeve, wherein said V-shaped wedge is urged by said spring force to maintain an initial position cradled with said V-shaped crevice unless said hanger is acted upon by a horizontal force sufficient to displace the said V-shaped wedge with said V-shaped crevice
 12. The mudflap assembly of claim 11 wherein said mudflap is molded into said hanger.
 13. The mudflap assembly of claim 11 wherein said hanger further comprises a slot for receiving said mudflap.
 14. The mudflap assembly of claim 11 wherein said hanger further comprises an attachments means for attaching said mudflap to said hanger.
 15. The mudflap assembly of claim 11 wherein said bracket further comprises at least one opening for attachment to a vehicle.
 16. A method, comprising the steps of: supporting a mudflap with a hanger; upon impact of said hanger with an obstacle, rotating said hanger thereby radially displacing said mudflap from an initial position; and radially replacing the hanger to the initial position via a biasing mechanism.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the replacing step further comprises the steps of positioning a ramped sleeve of said biasing mechanism to contact at least one protrusion on said hanger in order to maintain said hanger in an initial resting position before any horizontal force acts upon said hanger.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of urging said hanger to return to its initial position after said hanger has been acted on by a horizontal force.
 19. A mudflap assembly comprising a bracket connected to a vehicle; a hanger further comprising a mudflap; and a ramping means; wherein said hanger couples to said bracket thus extending the mudflap substantially perpendicularly from said vehicle, and wherein said ramping means causes said hanger to travel up and away from forces placed thereon. 